Teachable Moments

Gosh, a "conservative" who ridicules the opportunity for people to learn things. I'm shocked!

Is our journalists learning?

Poor Joe. You're going to be so disappointed. Obama is what his record indicates he is. An ambitious politician who says what the audience in front of him wants to hear. If he's going to "teach" us anything, it will be to never again believe the media hyped candidate who promises great things but hasn't accomplished anything. Barack better concern himself with learning rather than teaching if he plans on being re-elected because the problems he's likely to face will not be solved by standing in front of podium. What will he do when his agenda meets stiff opposition? Either he'll fight or he'll water down his agenda. His record does not inspire confidence. He promised a fight for FISA but he caved when the opposition pushed back. He promised a fight for NAFTA but he never really meant any of it. At least that's what he told the Canadiens. He is not very good at protecting his agenda when the going gets tough. That's the real "teachable moment".

bbpdx - you must have loved Ross Perot

"It would have been nice if George W. Bush had taken the opportunity to do a little teaching about Islam and the Middle East region after September 11."
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If he knew anything about it to start with. Anything true, for that matter.

As usual, thank you, Joe, for pointing out the hogwash that could very easily tip into perceived conventional wisdom. The idea that it's presumptuous for the man we want to elect as leader of our country to believe he has something to offer the American people in terms of insight and education is faulty like San Andreas. I hope we learn a lot from Obama.

Your writing has been invaluable this election.

Thanks, g_crush. My apologies for going off-topic.
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Or as Mickey Kaus would say, "How dare you assume that I don't know everything about everything?"

"He promised a fight for FISA but he caved when the opposition pushed back. He promised a fight for NAFTA but he never really meant any of it. At least that's what he told the Canadiens. He is not very good at protecting his agenda when the going gets tough."

His agenda was to be the first African-American to be elected president, in spite of Republicans, racists and other morons. Looks pretty tough and accomplished right about now.

Shep,

"His agenda was to be the first African-American to be elected president, in spite of Republicans, racists and other morons. Looks pretty tough and accomplished right about now."

Is that really his agenda? That explains it then. His goal is simply to be elected and once elected, to do...what exactly? If and when he wins, which he almost surely will, is that the beginning, middle and end of his movement? Will Obama do anything at all to solve any of the problems this country faces? He won because Republicans have proven themselves incompetent at governing and because the media cheer-led him to victory just as they did George W Bush the last two election cycles. Meanwhile, the country faces some very serious problems that will not be solved by rhetoric devoid of action. He'll have to do something if he wants to keep his teflon shield. Nevermind, he's the first black president and that's enough. He can run the country into the ground and usher in another decade of Republican misrule but he will still be a hero simply because he's black. What exactly does that "teach" us about the nature of race in America at the beginning of the twenty-first century?

I try to be a good person, and kind. But I love anyone who rags on Mickey Kaus. That guy seems to be asking for abuse. He's never happy. Never.